Building a Thesaurus from the
Ground Up: Cataloging Universal
Design Images
Barbara Brenny
Visual Resources Librarian
North Carolina State University Libraries
How It All Began
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Richard Duncan, Researcher at the Center
for Universal Design (CUD) at North Carolina
State University (NCSU)
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Had large number of images stored on the
Center’s server
Wanted to share them with other UD centers and
with the Public Health Image Library (PHIL) at the
Center’s for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta
A Goal is Set
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Develop a standard method for cataloging
UD-related images, including…
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Thesaurus
Taxonomy (Classification)
Rules for cataloging
The Challenge
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Standards will largely be used by UD
practitioners rather than librarians and
visual resources professionals
Making something simple, straightforward,
and easy to understand
What Exactly is Universal
Design?
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Grew out of barrier-free design, accessible
design, and assistive technology
Wide-ranging solutions for everyone, not
just those with disabilities
Does not stigmatize individuals
Everything is usable to all
Common Example of Univeral
Design
7 Principles of Universal
Design
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Equitable Use
Flexibility in Use
Simple and Intuitive Design
Perceptible Information
Minimizing Consequences for Error
Low Physical Effort
Size and Space for Approach and Use
Center for Universal Design
(CUD) at NCSU
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Established in 1989
A national research, information, and
technical assistance center that evaluates,
develops, and promotes accessible and
universal design in housing, buildings,
outdoor and urban environments and related
products.
http://www.design.ncsu.edu/cud/
Public Health Image Library
(PHIL)
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Sponsored by the Centers for Disease
Control
Collection of still images, image sets, and
multimedia files related to public health
MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) is primary
controlled vocabulary used
http://phil.cdc.gov/phil/home.asp
The Division of Labor
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Hugh Kelsey – Project Manager
Barbara Brenny – Builder of Controlled
Vocabularies
Richard Duncan – Universal Design Guru
Self-Education
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Accessible Environments: Toward
Universal Design, Ronald L. Mace, Graeme
J. Hardie, and Jaine P. Place, 1996
Universal Design Handbook, Wolfgang F.E.
Preiser, 2001
Publications section of CUD’s website:
http://www.design.ncsu.edu/cud/pubs_p/pubs
_p.htm
Creating the Taxonomy
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Purpose is to describe UD product or
environment
Four tiers
Tops levels: Non-Residential, Residential,
Product Design, and Transportation Vehicles
Expandable and goes beyond current needs
Some terminology borrowed from LCSH and
AAT
Designing the Taxonomy to
Support Uncertainty
Non-Residential
Public Entrances
Non-Residential
Public Rest Rooms
Incorporating the Language of
Universal Design
Parks
Improved Parks
Parks
Unimproved
Parks
Transportation
Spaces
Rest Stops
Improved Rest
Stops
Transportation
Spaces
Rest Stops
Unimproved
Rest Stops
Incorporating the Language of
Universal Design
Transportation
Spaces
Service
Stations
Full-Service
Transportation
Spaces
Service
Stations
Self-Service
Keeping Terminology Current
Asylums and Orphanages
vs.
Psychiatric Hospitals and Children’s
Homes
Problem Terminology
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Assisted Living
Facilities
Congregate Housing
Residential Care
Homes
Retirement
Communities
Senior Apartments
Nursing Homes
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Homes for the Elderly
Active Adult
Communities
Alzheimer's and
Dementia Care
Adult Foster Care
Homes
Continuing Care
Retirement Community
Creating the Thesaurus
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Purpose is to fill in important terms not
covered by taxonomy and UD principles
Complements taxonomy
Creating the Thesaurus
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Residential, SingleFamily Dwellings,
Houses
Bathrooms
Toilet Tank Levers
Creating the Thesaurus
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Pulled terms from AAT, LCSH, books on
Universal Design, and other resources
Making relationships between terms revealed
missing terminology
Main subject areas: building components,
yard and landscape elements, age groups,
physical movements, furniture components,
disabilities, disorders, information technology,
and UD concepts
Testing the Taxonomy and
Thesaurus
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Richard, the UD researcher, cataloged 25
of his images
His work was reviewed by Barbara, who
then noted how she would have cataloged
each image
Hugh reviewed both versions and
recorded his observations
Testing the Taxonomy and
Thesaurus
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Barbara and Richard made similar choices
Suggests UD practitioners will understand
how to use taxonomy and thesaurus
Resulted in more changes to both
controlled vocabularies
Preparations for Evaluation
by UD Practitioners
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Created cataloging instructions via a
diagram
Wrote explanation of taxonomies and
thesauri and how they relate to the
description of images
Sent package to evaluators
Evaluators’ Responses
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Happy to see a standardized way to
catalog UD images
Provided lists of terms to be added,
amended, or removed
Feed back used to make further changes
to taxonomy and thesaurus
Next Steps
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Putting Richard’s 250 images into PHIL
Publishing taxonomy and thesaurus on
Center for Universal Design’s website, the
CDC’s website, or both
Project put on hold due to Richard leaving his
position at CUD
Plan to resume project in the near future
Thank You